Wire-stretcher.



` Ptented June lo, |902;` H.L. Fenms. WIRE STRETCHER.

(Application med och. 9, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

Unirse STATES PATENT (lrriC.

HENRY L. FRRIS, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-TO HUNT, HELM, FERRIS da COMPANY, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, A COPARTNERSHIP.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SFECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 702,295, dated J' une 10, 1902. i Application filed October 9, 1901 Serial No. 78,033. (No model.)

To all whom it' may concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY L. FERRIs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State 'of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-S tretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in devices for stretching or tightening wire or the like, the object being to simplify and condense the construction and at the same time increase the power and durability.

To such end the invention consists in certain novel characteristics of construction and arrangement, a description whereof will be found in the following specification and the essential featu res more definitelypointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated by means of drawings furnished herewith, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the wirestretcher secured in place upon a post in position to tighten the wire. Fig 2 is a perspective View of a slide which is moved upon the supporting-bar in thetightening of the wire. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section through the device, the line of section beingindicated at 3 3 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section, the line of` section being indicated at 4f 4 in Figs.i2 and 3.

In the drawings, A represents a bar adapted to be secured to a post or other4 suitable support and upon which is slidingly mounted a slide B, adapted to be connected to the wire which is to be stretched, which slide is provided with suitable means for moving it upon said bar and securing it thereto at any point along the same. As shown, this bar has secured upon one end a hooked block a2, upon which is secured 'achain O, which is adapted to be carried around a post or other supporting device and hooked upon the block a2 to support the bar upon a post. This chain may, if desired, be supplied with a suitable wireclamp D, by means of whichthis end of the stretcher may be securedto a wire should it be found necessary to use the stretcher where no post is-available.

The slide B is best seen in Fig. 2 and, as shown, contains two side portions or plates l) b', connected at their ends by edge portions b2 b3, forming an approximately rectangular frame having a longitudinal opening extending through its entire length and openings in a portion of its sides. i Said longitudinal opening is of a size to allow the slide to move freely upon the bar, and for the purpose of moving said slide in tightening the wire a lever E is provided, which is pivoted upon the slide and carries two dogs or detents FF, adapted to engage notches o, a on opposite edges of the bar, the oscillation of said lever upon its pivot serving to move the dogs alternately into engagement with the notches on the opposite edges of the bar.

The pivot of the lever E is in the form of two gudgeons b4, projecting from the plates b b of the slide, and said lever is preferably formed in two parts e e', having their free ends brought together and riveted. On the opposite sides of the lever-pivot are pivoted dogs F F by means of rivets ff', (see'Fig. 3,) their working ends engaging the notches ct ot in the bar against the tension of the wire upon .the slide B. Said slide has side lugs b5 ZJ,

lying in the path ot' the handle portions f4f5 of the dogs, adapted to direct the working ends f2 fainto the notches as the lever is oscillated in the operation of the stretcher. In swinging the lever to the right from the position seen in Fig. l the dog F will remain in engagement with one of the notches a, while the slide caused by the tightening of the wire will securely hold both dogs in engagement with the notches.

The plates b b of the slide are somewhat narrower at bs to permit the dogs to engage the notches in the bar, and the upper plate l) is formed at this place-into a yoke bl, upon which a wire-clamp G may be directly hooked, thereby bringing the working parts close together and into very compact form. A wire H is shown as secured in the wire-clamp G, and by oscillating the lever E the end of said wire may be drawn toward the supportingpost upon which the stretcher is secured.

IOO

The formation of the gudgeons b4 upon the slide to act a pivot for the lever is of great importance, as they afford a convenient pivthe lever can be very cheaply constructed of sheet metal and to the fact thatby using rivets passing through the dogs as the only means for securing the other end of the lever in place all rivets on the blade proper are dispensed with. lt will be seen that the ends of the lever are secured in place by the lugs upon the frame passing through the holes in the sides of the lever, and the lever is then riveted through the dogs, requiring no other fastening whatever upon the frame. By the arrangement of the yoke the wire-clamp may be secured directly to the slide, thus economizintr space and simplifying the construction. This slide has been constructed in the form of a rectangular frame inclosing the bar, being thereby more easily guided upon the bar andnot liable to become wedged thereon.

A stretcher made in accordance with this specification is simple, powerful, and comparatively inexpensive.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a wire-stretcher, the combination with a bar notched upon the opposite sides, of a hollow rectangular slide, comprising a metal plate cut away upon its sides to form a narrowed central portion, a second plate, similarly cut away and having its narrowed central portion raised to form a yoke, and suitable struts connecting said upper and lower plates, a lever pivoted between its ends to the opposite plates of the slide, and har-engaging dogs pivoted to the lever upon opposite sides of the pivot, between the lever and the slide; substantially as described.

2. In a wire-stretcher, the combination with a bar notched upon the opposite sides, of a hollow rectangular slide, comprising a metal plate cut away upon its sides to form a narrowed central portion, a second plate similarly cutaway and having its narrowed central portion raised to form a yoke, a suitable outwardly-projecting lug upon each of said plates, said lugs being arranged opposite one another, a lever pivoted between its ends to the opposite plates of the slide, and bar-engaging dogs pivoted to the lever upon opposite sides of the pivot between thelever and the slide; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, this 30th day of September, A. D. 1901.

HENRY L. FERRIS.

lVitnesses:

BLAKE B. BELL, L. EUGENE NORTON. 

